Tone bar fixing structure for a metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument

ABSTRACT

A metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument comprises a plurality of metallic tone bars arranged side by side on a pair of spaced apart support members. Each tone bar has at one nodal point a generally L-shaped engagement member including a vertical section and a horizontal section extending, respectively, perpendicular and parallel to the tone bar and has a through hole at the other nodal point. The tone bar is fixed to one of the support members by means of the L-shaped engagement member with the engagement member being mounted to the lower side of the tone bar, and to the other of the support members by driving a screw or nail thereinto through the hole.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,731,580

Suzuki 1 1 May 8, 1973 541 TONE BAR FIXING STRUCTURE FOR 1,200,370 10/1916 Kohler ..s4/403 A METAL TONE BAR TYPE 2,504,915 4 1950 Zimmerman"... ...,84/403 1,192,324 7/1916 Kohler ..84/403 lnvemon Shigeo Suzuki, Har'namatsuJapan Primary ExaminerRich-ard B. Wilkinson 73 Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki f ff z-gh r Franklm Kaisha, Hamamatsu-shi, Japan nomey ynn Us [22] Filed: Nov. 25, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 92,801 A metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument comprises a plurality of metallic tone bars arranged side by side on a pair of spaced apart support mem- [301 Fm'e'gn Apphcatlon Pnonty Data bers. Each tone bar has at one nodal point a generally Nov. 28, 1969 Japan ..44 1 12653 p engagement member including a vertical section and a horizontal section extending, respective- [52] US. Cl 84/403 3' Perpendicular and Parallel to the tone bar and has 51 Int. Cl ..G0ld 13/08 a through hole at the other nodal point- The bar 58 Field of Search ..:;4/402, 403 is fixed one of the Support members by means of the L-shaped engagement member with the engage- [56] References Cited ment member being mounted to the lower side of the tone bar, and to the other of the support members by UNITED STATES PATENTS driving a screw or nail thereinto through the hole.

3,633,453 1/1972 Musser ..84/403 13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDW FIG.

PRIOR ART FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

TONE BAR FIXING STRUCTURE FOR A METAL TONE BAR TYPE PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument and more particularly to a tone bar fixing structure for the same.

The conventional metal tone bar type percussion l musical instrument, for example a glockenspiel (orchestra bell), has a construction illustrated in FIG. 1. A large number of metal tone bars 1 are arranged on an elongate wooden frame member 2 in a prescribed order of tone pitches. Through holes and 6 are perforated at both nodal points of the fundamental vibration of the tone bars 1. Each tone bar 1 is fixed, for example, by driving screws through the holes 5 and 6, to first and second support rods or members 3 and 4 constituting the frame member 2. The heads of the screws are driven fully downward and positioned lower than the upper surface of the tone bar 1.

With a percussion musical instrument of such arrangement, one of the aforesaid holes 5 and 6 is located near the section which is usually struck by a ballshaped hammer, and consequently the hole is often touched by mistake by the hammer, obstructing a smooth percussion performance. In consideration of such event, some of the prior art percussion musical instruments have each of the tone bars provided with a single fixing hole. According to such construction, the tone bars are each fixed at one end to one of the support members by a single screw and have a spacer disposed between the opposite free ends so as to prevent their lateral movement. However, such arrangement most likely causes the free end of the tone bar to be raised from its proper place when a percussion musical instrument is set up or taken out ofa case, with possible damage to the tone bar itself. Further, the exposure of the spacer between the tone bars will upset the players eyesight to obstruct his performance.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of a tone bar perforated with a single fixing' hole so as to ensure its tight fitting to support members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument comprising a plurality of tone bars of metal arranged side by side in a predetermined order of a musical scale, each of the tone bars having a through hole at one nodal point and having at the other nodal point, an engagement member mounted to the lower side thereof, the engagement member including first and second sections extending, respectively, perpendicular and parallel to the tone bar. A pair ofsupport members are spaced apart from each other and disposed in crosswise directions of the tone bars. Further provided are means for fixing the engagement member to one of the support members, and means for attaching the tone bar to the other of the support members, the attaching means being inserted through the through hole. The upper surface of the tone bar in the vicinity of the engagement member is unobstructed.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS ture according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the engagement member of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified engagement member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 2, the reference numeral 11 represents one of a plurality of tone bars made of, for example, steel or aluminum and arranged side by side in a prescribed order of a musical scale. In the underside of one end portion or nodal point of the tone bar is formed a blind hole 12, into which there is inserted one end of an L-shaped engagement member 13 about 2.6mm in diameter made of metal such as steel, followed by, for example, brazing for fixing it in place. The other end of the L-shaped engagement member 13 extends lengthwise of the tone bar 11 in parallel therewith toward the end edge thereof which is positioned near the engagement member 13. The L-shaped engagement member 13 thus includes a vertical section 13a and a horizontal section 13b extending, respectively, perpendicular and parallel to the tone bar 11. At the other end or nodal point of the tone bar 11 is perforated through hole 14 the diameter of which is greater near the upper surface of the tone bar 11 than near the lower surface thereof.

The tone bar of FIG. 2 is supported as shown in FIG. 3, on a pair of first and second elongate support members l5 and 16 jointly constituting a frame member. The support members 15 and 16 are spaced apart from each other and disposed crosswise of the tone .bars. On the first and second support members 15 and 16 are mounted elastic members 17 and 18 respectively which are made of, for example, felt, sponge rubber, or nylon. The elastic member 17 mounted on the first support member l5'has a notch or groove 19 formed at that part facing the L-shaped engagement member 13 fitted to the underside of the tone bar 11. On the outer surface of the first support member 15 is fixed, for example by means of a screw, a keep plate 20 extending up to the elastic member 17. At that part of the keep plate 20 which faces the groove 19 of the elastic member 17 is formed a hole or aperture 21 with a sufficient diameter to allow the free end of the L-shaped engagement member 13 to be inserted theretlirough. After the horizontal section 13b of the engagement member 13 is placed in the groove 19 of the elastic member 17, the tone bar is linearly guided through the groove 19 to bring the free end of the horizontal section 13b into the aperture 21 of the keep plate 20, thereby causing one end portion of the tone bar 11 to be engaged with the first support member 15. Thereafter the other end portion of the tone bar 11 is fixed to the second support member 16 by driving a screw 22 from the upper part of the through hole 14 through the elastic member 18 into the second support member 16.

In this case, to avoid direct contact between the head of the screw 22 and tone bar 11, it is preferred that the screw 22 be driven into the hole 14 tosuch an extent that the screw head is positioned lower than the upper surface of the tone bar 11. Further, it is also preferred for this purpose that the screw head be wrapped in a cushioning material 23 made of, for example, rubber.

According to the tone bar-supporting structure shown in FIG. 3, one end portion of the tone bar is engaged with the keep plate fixed to the first support member by means of the L-shaped engagement member fitted to the underside of the tone bar, thus facilitating performance and preventing one end portion of the tone bar from being displaced either vertically or horizontally.

The present invention is also applicable to a toy glockenspiel illustrated in FIG. 4. To the underside of one end portion of a metal tone bar 24 is, for example, spot welded a substantially L-shaped engagement member 25 including a vertical section 25a and a horizontal section 25b extending, respectively, perpendicular and parallel to the tone bar 24. The horizontal section 25b of the L-shaped engagement member 25 extends lengthwise of the tone bar 24 in parallel therewith. At the free end of the section 25b is cut out a notch 26 extending lengthwise of the tone bar as shown in FIG. 5. On the upper surface of the first support member 15 is fitted a screw or nail 27 with a head through a substantially tubular packing material 28 made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride or other rubber-like substances as an elastic member.

The tone bar 24 is supported at one end by inserting the body of the screw or nail 27 into the notch 26 formed at the free end of the L-shaped engagement member with the head of the screw or nail 27 positioned above the notch 26. Thus the head of the screw or nail prevents the upward movement of the engagement member 25. The tone bar 24 has a through hole 29 formed at the other end portion and is supported on the second support member 16 by screw or nail 30 penetrating the hole 29 through a tubular elastic member 31 positioned between the tone bar 24 and second support member 16, the'elastic member being made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride or other rubber-like substances.

FIG. 6 shows an engagement member having the notched horizontal section 25!) of FIG. and the elongated section 130 of FIG. 2. Elongated section 130 is generally rod shaped and is inserted into a-small blind hole in the underside of the tone bar (as in FIG. 2) and the notched section 25b is mounted to a screw or nail 27 (as in FIG. 4).

The present invention is further applicable to other percussion musical instruments like a bell lyre.

What is claimed is:

l. A metal tone bartype percussion musical instrument comprising:

a plurality of tone bars of metal arranged side by side in a predetermined order of a musical scale, each of said tone bars having an upper playing side to be struck by a hammer and a lower side opposite to said upper side and also having two nodal points,

each of said tone bars being perforated with a through hole at one of said nodal points and having a blind hole in the lower side at the other of said nodal points the maximum cross-sectional dimension of said blind hole being substantially smaller than the width of its respective tone bar;

an engagement member including first and second sections extending, respectively, substantially perpendicular and parallel to said tone bar, said first section being inserted in said blind hole and being fixed to said tone bar on the lower side thereof without obstructing the upper playing side of said tone bar in the vicinity of said other nodal point, thereby providing substantially spot-contact between said tone bar and said engagement member;

a pair of first and second support members spaced apart from each other and disposed crosswise of said tone bars;

means for fixing said engagement member to said first support member; and

means for attaching said tone bar to said second support member, said attaching means being inserted through said through hole.

2. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises an elongated fixing element having a head driven in said second support member through said through hole.

3. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises a plate member having a hole therein and fixed to said first support member, the second section of said engagement member being inserted in said hole of the plate member.

4. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 3 which further comprises an elastic member interposed between said tone bar and said first support member, said elastic member having a notch or groove formed on the upper side thereof so as to guide the second section of said engagement member into said hole of the plate member.

5. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second section extends lengthwise of said tone bar.

6. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second section has a notch formed in the free end thereof, and said fixing means comprises an elongated fixing element having a head and driven in said first support member through said notch.

7. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 6 wherein said notch extends lengthwise of said tone bar.

8, The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engagement member is a generally L-shaped rod-type member having a substantially small cross-section.

9. A metal tone bar type percussion musical. instrument comprising:

a plurality of tone bars of metal arranged side by side in a predetermined order of a musical scale, each of said tone bars having two nodal points and being perforated with a through hole at one of said nodal points and having a blind hole in the lower side at J 6 the other of said nodal points, the maximum crossmeans for attaching said tone bar to said second supsectional dimension of said blind hole being subport member, said attaching means being inserted stantially smaller than the width of its respective through said through hole. tone 10. The metal tone bar type percussion musical inan engagement member including first and Second 5 strument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said notch exsections extending, respectively, substantially pertends l h i f i tone b pendicular and parallel to said tone bar, said first section being inserted in said blind hole and being fixed to said tone bar and said second section having a notch formed in the free end thereof, thereby 10 providing substantially spot-contact between said tone bar and said engagement member;

a pair of first and second support members spaced apart from each other and disposed crosswise of said tone bars;

means for fixing said engagement member to said first support member, said fixing means compris- 11. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said engagement member is a generally L-shaped rod-type member having a substantially small cross-section.

12. The metal tone bar type bar percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fixing means comprises an elongated fixing element having a head.

11 The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said attaching ing an elongated fixing element having a head and means comprises an elongated fixing element having a being driven in said first support member through head said notch; and 

1. A metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument comprising: a plurality of tone bars of metal arranged side by side in a predetermined order of a musical scale, each of said tone bars having an upper playing side to be struck by a hammer and a lower side opposite to said upper side and also having two nodal points, each of said tone bars being perforated with a through hole at one of said nodal points and having a blind hole in the lower side at the other of said nodal points the maximum cross-sectional dimension of said blind hole being substantially smaller than the width of its respective tone bar; an engagement member including first and second sections extending, respectively, substantially perpendicular and parallel to said tone bar, said first section being inserted in said blind hole and being fixed to said tone bar on the lower side thereof without obstructing the upper playing side of said tone bar in the vicinity of said other nodal point, thereby providing substantially spot-contact between said tone bar and said engagement member; a pair of first and second support members spaced apart from each other and disposed crosswise of said tone bars; means for fixing said engagement member to said first support member; and means for attaching said tone bar to said second support member, said attaching means being inserted through said through hole.
 2. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises an elongated fixing element having a head driven in said second support member through sAid through hole.
 3. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fixing means comprises a plate member having a hole therein and fixed to said first support member, the second section of said engagement member being inserted in said hole of the plate member.
 4. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 3 which further comprises an elastic member interposed between said tone bar and said first support member, said elastic member having a notch or groove formed on the upper side thereof so as to guide the second section of said engagement member into said hole of the plate member.
 5. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second section extends lengthwise of said tone bar.
 6. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second section has a notch formed in the free end thereof, and said fixing means comprises an elongated fixing element having a head and driven in said first support member through said notch.
 7. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 6 wherein said notch extends lengthwise of said tone bar.
 8. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engagement member is a generally L-shaped rod-type member having a substantially small cross-section.
 9. A metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument comprising: a plurality of tone bars of metal arranged side by side in a predetermined order of a musical scale, each of said tone bars having two nodal points and being perforated with a through hole at one of said nodal points and having a blind hole in the lower side at the other of said nodal points, the maximum cross-sectional dimension of said blind hole being substantially smaller than the width of its respective tone bar; an engagement member including first and second sections extending, respectively, substantially perpendicular and parallel to said tone bar, said first section being inserted in said blind hole and being fixed to said tone bar and said second section having a notch formed in the free end thereof, thereby providing substantially spot-contact between said tone bar and said engagement member; a pair of first and second support members spaced apart from each other and disposed crosswise of said tone bars; means for fixing said engagement member to said first support member, said fixing means comprising an elongated fixing element having a head and being driven in said first support member through said notch; and means for attaching said tone bar to said second support member, said attaching means being inserted through said through hole.
 10. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said notch extends lengthwise of said tone bar.
 11. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said engagement member is a generally L-shaped rod-type member having a substantially small cross-section.
 12. The metal tone bar type bar percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fixing means comprises an elongated fixing element having a head.
 13. The metal tone bar type percussion musical instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said attaching means comprises an elongated fixing element having a head. 